New Government Scheme Offers Free Health Training for UK Small Businesses

To kick of the new year, the UK government has announced a new initiative aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises better manage workplace health and reduce sickness absence, with free occupational health training being offered to line managers in small businesses across England.

The programme, running between January and March 2026, will provide training to thousands of managers working in smaller firms. It is designed to help managers identify early signs of health-related challenges among employees and respond in a supportive and effective way, with the goal of preventing minor issues from becoming long-term absences.

Workplace sickness continues to present a significant challenge for UK employers, particularly smaller businesses with limited HR resources. Long-term sickness absence can disrupt operations, increase costs and place additional pressure on remaining staff. The government says the new training scheme is intended to address these challenges by giving managers practical tools and confidence to support employee wellbeing.

Participants in the programme will receive guidance on how to recognise changes in behaviour or performance that may indicate health concerns, how to have appropriate conversations with staff, and how to explore reasonable workplace adjustments. The training will also improve understanding of occupational health services and how they can be used to support employees to stay in work where possible.

For SMEs, the initiative offers access to support that has traditionally been difficult to obtain due to cost and capacity constraints. By improving early intervention and communication, businesses may be able to reduce sickness-related absences, improve staff retention and maintain productivity.

The training is voluntary and will be delivered by accredited providers. Registration is expected to open in early January, with places allocated on a first-come basis. The government has said the scheme forms part of a wider effort to modernise workplace practices and support both employees and employers in a changing labour market.

As businesses begin 2026, the initiative is being positioned as a practical step for SMEs looking to strengthen their approach to employee health, meet their legal responsibilities and build more resilient workplaces.